The 7th Edition of the Azores Ladies Open, which was yesterday presented at BTL, has two great news: a new date and the increase in prize money, returning again to Terceira Island Golf Club, and to its famous Terceira Golf Course, where the tournament took place also in 2013 and 2015.
After being born in 2011, on the island of São Miguel, in Batalha Golf Course, with 25000 euros in prize money, the Azores Ladies Open distributes in 2017 35000 euros in prize-money, an increase of 5000 € from 2016.
Although the Ladies European Tour Access Series (ROSHAN) presente tournaments with 40000 and even 50000 euros, the ability of the Azores Ladies Open to follow the general rise in prize money consolidates their position in the second division of the European Ladies professional golf association .
Azores tourism and the golf courses, such as Terceira Golf Course, can show the whole world that follows these tournaments by the media that it is possible to play golf in the Azores in April, at a time of year when this practice is prohibited in many countries still subject to harsh winters».
British Diana Barnard, Director of the LETAS tournaments, pointed out:
«The Ladies European Tour Access Series, which will now celebrates his eighth year, is pleased to return to the stunning Terceira Island Golf Club, for the seventh edition of the Azores Ladies Open.
«The Terceira Golf Course is both overwhelming and a fabulous test to golf. The players and I would like to thank the Club for receiving us again on this spectacular stage.
«My sincere thanks to the Regional Secretariat of energy, environment and tourism of the Azores, SATA/Azores Airlines and all other sponsors for your continued support to LET Access Series and women’s golf in Europe.
«This tournament contributes to the development of the careers of young professional golfers and we checked earlier that participants reached later, a huge hit on the Ladies European Tour and even to represent their countries at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.»
Portugal only have three golf tournaments counting for world rankings of professionals and to the Olympic rankings. The Azores Ladies Open is the only women’s tournament with this status. The others are masculine: the Open of Portugal @ Morgado Golf Resort, from 11 to 14 may, and the Portugal Masters, from 21 to 24 September. The change of date causes the Azores Ladies Open to be the first major golf event of the year in our country.
In sporting terms, the Azores Ladies Open has brought to Portugal a few players that end up later by shine in main circuits of Europe and the United States, and last year there were several Olympic athletes in Rio de Janeiro who had competed in previous editions of the race of the Azores.
The Sixth Edition, in 2016, was also important for the professional national champion, Susana Ribeiro, achieve the highest placement ever in a tournament, for a Portuguese professional 10th place shared with three other women, with a total 221, 5 strokes above Par after rounds of 79, 70 and 72.
«Is my best tournament ever in LETAS , one where I obtained the best rating, with the best result. Of course it’s great to break records and make history», said Susana Ribeiro, whose presence is scheduled again this year in the Azores at Terceira Golf Course.
